I wrote the following the morning of game six of the NLCS (10/22/16):
So here we are again. One win away.
So here we are again. One win away.
Up 2-0 in the series and holding the lead at one point in each of the next three games, we failed to advance. On the day before my 17th birthday I cried for a good half hour in front of the t.v. set after the last out was recorded in San Diego. I can still remember the shock and pain. I was absolutely head over heels in love with the 1984 team. My sports fandom has never had a lower point than it did that afternoon.
In October of 2003 I watched my team go up 3-1 in the series and even when the margin moved to 3-2, I was confident. Prior and Wood were due to pitch. We were at home. We would surely win one of the two. Then the shortstop bobbled a ground ball in the fateful 8th frame of game six and a whole lot of people laid false blame on a guy in the stands. I cried in my own basement the night game seven ended. My heart had been broken again.
Will this time be different? Of course I so, so want it to be just that. The ghosts of past near misses can all be extinguished if the Chicago Cubs can win a baseball game tonight. As much as I've wanted it all these years, there's now an added element. My own son, now 19 years of age, also carries the love and passion for Chicago Cubs baseball that his old man has. I want this for him. I don't want his heart broken like mine.
We don't always get what we want in life. I realize and accept that. This time around though, it'd be kinda nice. No. It'd be more than that. It would be a lifelong dream come true.
Later that night, this happened:
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.burghardt.58/videos/10210869679278621/
Next stop: The 2016 World Series!
